Working Group 2

Working group 2 focuses on customizing, processing, and manufacturing MOFs into usable materials, shapes and devices over a wide range of scales. Challenges in processing of MOF are related to their ultrahigh surface area, porosity and the hybrid organic-inorganic crystalline structures, resulting in limited temperature stability (for heat treatment), stability in some processing solvents (e.g. water) or sensitivity to shaping conditions (e.g. pressure in extrusion). Work in this field is therefore motivated by the need to maintain the crystalline framework properties while ensuring the ability to adapt and apply the required manufacturing technologies with good reproducibility and scalability. Reproducibility in particular is a key to standardization and scale-up for real applications. In addition, maximizing yield throughout complex process sequences is important both in terms of economic viability and in terms of ecological impact. These challenges tend to be aggravated when scaling to large volumes.

The members of WG2 focus on applications that include

• Energy storage
• Gas separation and storage
• Water treatment and liquid separations
• Air filtration
• Catalysis
• Sensors
• Biomedical applications

Scaling the synthesis and processing of MOFs from the lab scale (mg) to grams or kilograms is a common theme across these domains. Thus, there is a strong interaction with WG1 (synthesis) and WG3 (characterization) to advance high volume manufacturing with robust quality control.

Central in many applications is the ability to grow or deposit MOFs in complex shapes, for example to enhance mass transport by convection through vascular networks and other complex 3D-geometries. This challenge is addressed here through the interaction of experts in technologies such as

• 3D Printing using MOF-based inks and/or decorating 3D-printed scaffolds with MOFs
• Inkjet printing
• Electrospinning
• Electrochemical conversion of metallic micro/nanostructures
• Fabrication and assembly of micro/nanoparticles
• Casting techniques
• Lithographic patterning
• Heterogeneous integration of MOF-based and other devices at the micrometer to millimeter scale.

WG2 Leader: Prof. Thomas BURG (thomas.burg@tu-darmstadt.de)

WG2 Co-Leader: Prof. Andreas KAISER (akai@dtu.dk)